A Guide to Investing
Investing is a great way to increase your wealth and work towards achieving your financial objectives, or boost your income to improve your lifestyle. But, it is by no means a smooth process, so what should you do in order to make the most of your investments and stay on course to achieve your goals? Diversify – If you limit your investments to one market or industry, you could…
Common Pension Mistakes to Avoid
If you are to enjoy the lifestyle you want and deserve in retirement, careful planning is critically important. Indeed, you do not want to simply make ends meet. After decades of hard work, you want to have a sense of financial freedom, and fill your time with your hobbies, passions and priorities. But many of us can make mistakes without realizing, that can significantly hit our income in later…
How Can You Save for Your Child’s Future?
The main three choices that children of school-leaving age are faced with now are to attend university; to take up some form of training/learning on the job such as an apprenticeship; or to enter the workforce. Each of these carries its own financial burden. Whether that be the cost of tuition fees and housing at university, or the cost of transport and a work-wear wardrobe if they enter the…
How Taking Control of Your Finances is Good for Your Mental Health
Worries about money can have a very real impact on your wider health and wellbeing, particularly when so many factors, such as soaring inflation, rising interest rates and climbing mortgage rates are beyond your control. Unsurprisingly, high living costs are a huge cause of stress and anxiety across the UK right now, with the Mental Health Foundation noting that 35- to 64-year-olds are more anxious than any other group…
What do rising interest rates mean for you?
The Bank of England has increased interest rates for the 14th time since December 2021, in an effort to bring down inflation. There is still an expectation that we are yet to reach the peak and there could be at least another two hikes this year. This means that the cost of borrowing money continues to increase. For most people their main form of borrowing is their mortgage which…
Should Young Adults Consider Financial Advice?
Starting financial planning at an early age is key to developing good monetary habits – which can make all the difference in achieving future financial success. For people in their early thirties, this is the time to learn about finance and start saving for the future. Not only can seeking advice from a regulated professional improve your financial situation, but there are other benefits alongside that too. Many young…
Should I make overpayments on my mortgage?
When you are setting your financial and lifestyle goals, paying off your mortgage is likely to be at or near the top of the list. So, it’s reasonable to start thinking about whether you could overpay slightly every month in order to pay it off more quickly. But there are many variables to consider beforehand to be sure it’s the right decision for you. Firstly, does this approach help…
Considering retiring abroad?
Retiring abroad is becoming a more common ambition for many people. You have worked hard for many years and feel you deserve your time in the sun – quite literally. But moving overseas in later life is not quite as simple as just packing your suitcase and jetting off. There are plenty of things you should think about beforehand, so you can be confident you will get to enjoy…
Cash vs Stocks & Shares ISAs
It can be difficult to decipher what the best options are for you to save and invest your money. With interest rates now higher than they have been for the past 10 years, more people are considering placing their savings into Cash, rather than an invested option, such as a Stocks & Shares ISA. So what do you need to know about these options? If you look at this…
Lasting Power of Attorney
Aging is not often a pleasant thing to think about but, it is a topic it would be foolish to ignore. The average life expectancy in the UK is continuing to increase, which means many more of us might struggle to manage our own affairs and remain independent in the future. Steps should be taken now to make sure the right decisions are made on our behalf in later…
